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Delivery is a proven value added to every newspaper

By William E. (Bill) GarberFounder

It is a rare newspaper whose single-copy sales exceed home delivery. Delivery is a tremendous value added to the newspaper. And with this in mind, better delivery just makes sense and dollars, when considering what poor delivery does to subscriber churn.

Delivery is a key reason why community newspapers compete, and compete well, in not only the world of radio and television, but in the crazy, wonderful, everywhere, always-on digital world.

People are increasingly reluctant to turn on a computer or cell phone, find an app, open an app, look at the landing “page” and try to figure out what everyone is or will be reading, and see what’s going on in the news.

Join Pub Aux Live Dec. 4 with Max Heath and Interlink president Brad Hill for discussion on benefits of Full-Service Intelligent Mail

New rules and regulations are in place. Now that you can order anything from toasters to drones online, it is no surprise that communicating with the U.S. Postal Service solely through electronic documentation is in your future. Not yet a requirement for all publications, but beneficial to most, the new eDoc options that eliminate paperwork for you and USPS are in place. Electronic filing and new Full-Service Barcodes are part of the Postal Service’s future plans for improving service. Learn how you can get in the door with minimum fuss and prepare your newspaper for the electronic future of mailing.

Registration fee: $30 for NNA members / $65 for non-NNA members

Registerby Monday, Dec. 1(Registrations submitted after December 1 are subject to a $10 late fee)

More publications now submitting postage statements electronically

By Brad HillPresident

Nearly 250 newspapers now are using Interlink Circulation to submit postal documentation online for every issue. In doing so, publishers are freed from having to provide hardcopy PS Forms 3541 (Periodical Mail) and 3602 (Standard Mail), as well as the USPS Qualification Report.

In lieu of clicking Print, eDoc users choose Send to USPS to submit their reports, which are then immediately available to the local post office. Printed copies still are available for determined record-keepers, from within Circulation or by logging into the USPS Business Customer Gateway at gateway.usps.com.

Stop Printing Postage Statements

By Brad HillPresident

Have you ever published an issue where the page count on your postal documentation was higher than that of the paper itself? Answering ‘yes’ has become ever easier as mailing requirements and the complexity of supporting documentation have increased over time.

The U.S. Postal Service on Dec. 27 notified the mailing industry that the requirement to use the Full Service Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) to qualify for automation discounts after January 2014 has been indefinitely suspended.

USPS was ordered by the Postal Regulatory Commission in December to either suspend the IMb requirement or to adjust its annual cost-of-living postage increase to subtract the extra cost to mailers. USPS elected to keep its postage increase. The Dec. 27 notice is its official word that it has no current plans to reinstate the requirement.

NNA Postal Committee Chair Max Heath said NNA welcomes the suspension of the requirement, but continues to encourage its members to consider use of the IMb software so they can take advantage of electronic documentation.

How do you feel about the number 7?

Interlink customers shouldn’t let delay slow their progress

By William E. (Bill) Garber
Interlink founder

Google offers way more than seven explanations for why people are often impressed with seven of anything. Interlink clients have their own reasons, including seven for why they will be continuing with their plans to implement Full-Service Intelligent Mail® as soon as possible, even though the Postal Service had to pull the plug on the January 26 deadline.

1. Pocket money. The sooner a weekly claims the Full-Service Intelligent Mail® postage discount, the more savings will accumulate over the years. Of course, this is only about $100 annually for a 2,000-subscription weekly. But, it is a rare publisher who wouldn’t reach down to pick up a $50 bill or two off the street.

2. More consistent delivery. Full-Service Intelligent Mail® is highly visible on the outside of every sack, tub and other handling units. Postal workers from dock, to plant, to post office know Full-Service Intelligent Mail® when they see it; they also know that ‘the system’ has seen it and knows it is right in front of them. The sooner your newspapers travel in Full-Service Intelligent Mail® handling units, the sooner subscribers will enjoy more consistent delivery.

Wow! Another sharp turn on Postal Service roller coaster

By William E. (Bill) GarberInterlink founder

When the Postal Service announced the day after Thanksgiving that they will not require Full-Service Intelligent Mail® next month as planned, Helen Sosniecki, Interlink’s senior sales and marketing manager and NNA McKinney Award-recognized former community newspaper publisher, was not particularly surprised.

“Long-time publishers have been down this road with the Postal Service before so it’s not surprising that many may have taken the January deadline with a grain of salt. It’s also why there is always such a flurry of activity whenever a Postal Service deadline is implemented,” she said.

Many Interlink clients will remember their adventure as the Postal Service started integrating Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) requirements 20 years ago.

Update on USPS Full-Service Intelligent Mail Requirement

The Full-Service Intelligent Mail requirement for continued qualification for Periodical Mail Automation Rate discounts has been delayed. Interlink is assessing the situation and as we come to better understand the implications for community newspapers, we will share what we learn with you.

The U.S. Postal Service is disappointed with the portion of last week’s ruling from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) which held that the implementation of Full-Service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) constitutes a rate increase. This ill-conceived decision will impair complete adoption of Full-Service IMb and hinder the Postal Service’s ability to promote a technology that enhances the value of mail, which is critical to the development of next-generation digital products and services. The PRC’s overly expansive view of the price cap demonstrates why comprehensive postal reform legislation should include additional pricing authority for the Postal Service Board of Governors.

The Postal Service is offering a series of webinars which are designed to assist mailers with participation in Full-Service Intelligent Mail.

Note from Interlink: Most of what the USPS webinars cover is material for all types of mailers and classes of mail, where only a fraction of material applies to newspaper mail. As such, Interlink customers may find the Oct. 24 webinar on understanding the Business Customer Gateway to be of particular interest.